Prior will make his start on schedule

[98navigator]

I think this had everything to do with seeing how Prior felt after his session yesterday before committing to a date for his first game. They played it cautiously at first, then when he came in and felt fine today after throwing yesterday, they went forward. The last thing they wanted was to commit to a date then have to push it off if he felt a bit sore.

 

No need to see a conspiracy when there's such a simple explanation available.

 

Well, they did commit by saying yesterday he would be held back for a start on March 7th or 8th. I'm sure they were just being cautious but something outside of Prior feeling good (because he's been saying that all along if you believe the reports) prompted a change of course.

[Balsa]

Who picked the spring training game for the first time Lou gets ejected? :lol:

[98navigator]

In other news, these sports talk radio guys are totally over analyzing this Prior thing.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bruce, I liked the first line of the article.

 

Relax, Cubs fans.

 

Good words.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

While this certainly is good news, the bad news is I can't listen to games on Monday because of work. :(

[Amazing_Grace]

I wonder how much the reaction in Chicago to the initial decision contributed to them changing the schedule.

 

I hope it didn't contribute at all. Fan and press reactions and expectations should not even remotely be a factor in deciding how quickly an injured player returns. I can't help but be suspicious there's still something going on with Prior after the conflicting announcements recently. I just do not trust the Cubs when it comes to dealing with injured players.

[Sarcastic]

I wonder how much the reaction in Chicago to the initial decision contributed to them changing the schedule.

 

I hope it didn't contribute at all. Fan and press reactions and expectations should not even remotely be a factor in deciding how quickly an injured player returns. I can't help but be suspicious there's still something going on with Prior after the conflicting announcements recently. I just do not trust the Cubs when it comes to dealing with injured players.

 

I love how the main fan reaction to this Prior thing is:

 

a) the Cubs should never make decisions based on fan concerns and

b) the fact that they are doing this concerns me.

 

Its not hypocritical, but it is grand irony. Its human nature to want to have a cake and eat it too.

[Roast]

Its human nature to want to have a cake and eat it too.

 

Of course we do, what the hell good is cake if you cant eat it!

[bhogg]

I like pie.

 

I'd like to have my pie and eat it, too.

 

And a cup of coffee.

[98navigator]

Prior's comments from the Tribune.

 

"I don't know what everybody's been told," "but right now I'm healthy, going at everything at full speed. I've done everything in camp that's been asked of me. Unless someone tells me to do something otherwise, I'll keep doing what I'm doing."

 

"...I like the way I've thrown the ball this spring. Just take it every day at a time and keep moving forward."

 

Also

 

Prior said he was unaware that he was originally supposed to miss the first week of games, and was told of his start Monday morning.

 

Sarcasm by Sullivan

 

Prior paranoia was first diagnosed as a congenital Cubs fan disorder on July 11, 2003, when Prior collided with the Braves' Marcus Giles on the basepath at Wrigley Field, fell hard on his right shoulder and was allowed to continue pitching.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Prior's comments from the Tribune.

 

"I don't know what everybody's been told," "but right now I'm healthy, going at everything at full speed. I've done everything in camp that's been asked of me. Unless someone tells me to do something otherwise, I'll keep doing what I'm doing."

 

"...I like the way I've thrown the ball this spring. Just take it every day at a time and keep moving forward."

 

Also

 

Prior said he was unaware that he was originally supposed to miss the first week of games, and was told of his start Monday morning.

 

Sarcasm by Sullivan

 

Prior paranoia was first diagnosed as a congenital Cubs fan disorder on July 11, 2003, when Prior collided with the Braves' Marcus Giles on the basepath at Wrigley Field, fell hard on his right shoulder and was allowed to continue pitching.

 

How does Sullivan have a job? 50% of HS English students can write better than that foo'.

[Magnetic Curses]

rothschild cracks me up though.

 

"i can't see any reason why he wouldn't be on schedule" or something like that.

 

that's hilarious. just tell us he's ready to go, don't tell us that he's not unready to go.

[CuseCubFan69]

Personally I don't think Prior is going to be ready by June at the earliest and I still feel that way but I'm hoping I'm wrong. I like the fact that he said he doesn't care which slot he's in because once the season starts it doesn't really matter that much.

 

I really don't like writers like Sullivan who just wants to start stupid little rumors and make controvesy. That guy should go write for the National Enquirer. Grow up and be a professional sports writer or change careers.

[David]

Personally I don't think Prior is going to be ready by June at the earliest and I still feel that way but I'm hoping I'm wrong. I like the fact that he said he doesn't care which slot he's in because once the season starts it doesn't really matter that much.

 

I really don't like writers like Sullivan who just wants to start stupid little rumors and make controvesy. That guy should go write for the National Enquirer. Grow up and be a professional sports writer or change careers.

 

I know you're just doing this to protect yourself from being let down, but what's the point? I'd say it's extremely likely that that won't be the case. Granted, something could come up, but you could say that about anybody.

 

Given Prior's history, I can see how there's cause for concern, but nothing that has actually happened leading up to this spring and so far in camp could lead you to believe that. If I had to put money on Prior either starting on time, or not making his first start until June, based on what we know right now, I'd have to go with the former.

 

I'm not criticizing you or anything. I just don't understand it. It reminds me of the guy on the Score (I think it's Offman) who refuses to put the Cubs anywhere above 3rd place in his predictions this year even though he openly concedes that the Cubs are probably a better team than the rest of the division. He just "can't" put them ahead of the Cardinals or Astros. Whatever. He claims they were too bad last year and that it's too hard to go from worst to first, which really makes no sense.

 

Besides, where's the fun in setting yourself up for the worst case scenario? Sports would be absolutely no fun for me if I started out every season expecting my team to finish in last place. Half the fun is the preseason anticipation/optimism, for me, at least.

[C.C.]

Personally I don't think Prior is going to be ready by June at the earliest and I still feel that way but I'm hoping I'm wrong. I like the fact that he said he doesn't care which slot he's in because once the season starts it doesn't really matter that much.

 

I really don't like writers like Sullivan who just wants to start stupid little rumors and make controvesy. That guy should go write for the National Enquirer. Grow up and be a professional sports writer or change careers.

 

I know you're just doing this to protect yourself from being let down, but what's the point? I'd say it's extremely likely that that won't be the case. Granted, something could come up, but you could say that about anybody.

 

Given Prior's history, I can see how there's cause for concern, but nothing that has actually happened leading up to this spring and so far in camp could lead you to believe that. If I had to put money on Prior either starting on time, or not making his first start until June, based on what we know right now, I'd have to go with the former.

 

I'm not criticizing you or anything. I just don't understand it. It reminds me of the guy on the Score (I think it's Offman) who refuses to put the Cubs anywhere above 3rd place in his predictions this year even though he openly concedes that the Cubs are probably a better team than the rest of the division. He just "can't" put them ahead of the Cardinals or Astros. Whatever. He claims they were too bad last year and that it's too hard to go from worst to first, which really makes no sense.

 

Besides, where's the fun in setting yourself up for the worst case scenario? Sports would be absolutely no fun for me if I started out every season expecting my team to finish in last place. Half the fun is the preseason anticipation/optimism, for me, at least.

 

So you won't get disappointed. Even though that never works.

[goonys evil twin]

Personally I don't think Prior is going to be ready by June at the earliest and I still feel that way but I'm hoping I'm wrong. I like the fact that he said he doesn't care which slot he's in because once the season starts it doesn't really matter that much.

 

I really don't like writers like Sullivan who just wants to start stupid little rumors and make controvesy. That guy should go write for the National Enquirer. Grow up and be a professional sports writer or change careers.

 

I know you're just doing this to protect yourself from being let down, but what's the point? I'd say it's extremely likely that that won't be the case. Granted, something could come up, but you could say that about anybody.

 

Given Prior's history, I can see how there's cause for concern, but nothing that has actually happened leading up to this spring and so far in camp could lead you to believe that. If I had to put money on Prior either starting on time, or not making his first start until June, based on what we know right now, I'd have to go with the former.

 

I'm not criticizing you or anything. I just don't understand it.

 

I personally don't see the "not ready until June at the earliest" as very likely. If Prior isn't going to be ready until June, then I just don't think he'll be ready at all. I think he's either going to start the season relatively healthy, or not be of much use at all this year. It's not like he's recovering from TJS, where you would put a likely date and timeframe out there. At this point, the most likely scenario seems to be early April. If something happens to push that back this spring, then I think we'll ultimately just see another lost season.

[David]

I know you're just doing this to protect yourself from being let down, but what's the point? I'd say it's extremely likely that that won't be the case. Granted, something could come up, but you could say that about anybody.

 

Given Prior's history, I can see how there's cause for concern, but nothing that has actually happened leading up to this spring and so far in camp could lead you to believe that. If I had to put money on Prior either starting on time, or not making his first start until June, based on what we know right now, I'd have to go with the former.

 

I'm not criticizing you or anything. I just don't understand it.

 

I personally don't see the "not ready until June at the earliest" as very likely. If Prior isn't going to be ready until June, then I just don't think he'll be ready at all. I think he's either going to start the season relatively healthy, or not be of much use at all this year. It's not like he's recovering from TJS, where you would put a likely date and timeframe out there. At this point, the most likely scenario seems to be early April. If something happens to push that back this spring, then I think we'll ultimately just see another lost season.

 

Exactly.

[CuseCubFan69]

Personally I don't think Prior is going to be ready by June at the earliest and I still feel that way but I'm hoping I'm wrong. I like the fact that he said he doesn't care which slot he's in because once the season starts it doesn't really matter that much.

 

I really don't like writers like Sullivan who just wants to start stupid little rumors and make controvesy. That guy should go write for the National Enquirer. Grow up and be a professional sports writer or change careers.

 

I know you're just doing this to protect yourself from being let down, but what's the point? I'd say it's extremely likely that that won't be the case. Granted, something could come up, but you could say that about anybody.

 

Given Prior's history, I can see how there's cause for concern, but nothing that has actually happened leading up to this spring and so far in camp could lead you to believe that. If I had to put money on Prior either starting on time, or not making his first start until June, based on what we know right now, I'd have to go with the former.

 

I'm not criticizing you or anything. I just don't understand it. It reminds me of the guy on the Score (I think it's Offman) who refuses to put the Cubs anywhere above 3rd place in his predictions this year even though he openly concedes that the Cubs are probably a better team than the rest of the division. He just "can't" put them ahead of the Cardinals or Astros. Whatever. He claims they were too bad last year and that it's too hard to go from worst to first, which really makes no sense.

 

Besides, where's the fun in setting yourself up for the worst case scenario? Sports would be absolutely no fun for me if I started out every season expecting my team to finish in last place. Half the fun is the preseason anticipation/optimism, for me, at least.

 

I felt this way about Wood last year too and it has nothing to do with protecting myself in any way. I didn't like what I saw of Mark for the past 2 years and something is wrong IMO. I'm not trying to be a naysayer but the past history that Prior has shown bothers me. All this secret we don't know what's wrong thing just makes me wonder why they say this and I haven't heard what was wrong in the first place along with what he's hitting on the gun. I think the Cubs will have a good year with or without Prior but if he's even close to 2003 they will a very nice team indeed.

[Lefty]

Sports would be absolutely no fun for me if I started out every season expecting my team to finish in last place. Half the fun is the preseason anticipation/optimism, for me, at least.

 

And for a Cub fan, that's usually it.

[C.C.]

Sports would be absolutely no fun for me if I started out every season expecting my team to finish in last place. Half the fun is the preseason anticipation/optimism, for me, at least.

 

And for a Cub fan, that's usually it.

 

Well played...

[David]

Sports would be absolutely no fun for me if I started out every season expecting my team to finish in last place. Half the fun is the preseason anticipation/optimism, for me, at least.

 

And for a Cub fan, that's usually it.

 

Touche

[goonys evil twin]

I felt this way about Wood last year too and it has nothing to do with protecting myself in any way. I didn't like what I saw of Mark for the past 2 years and something is wrong IMO. I'm not trying to be a naysayer but the past history that Prior has shown bothers me. All this secret we don't know what's wrong thing just makes me wonder why they say this and I haven't heard what was wrong in the first place along with what he's hitting on the gun. I think the Cubs will have a good year with or without Prior but if he's even close to 2003 they will a very nice team indeed.

 

At this point though, if he's actually pitching, it's hard to maintain the "there's something wrong" idea. There doesn't seem to be much of a secret going on. We're not hearing that he's being held out and we don't know why. He's not in an undisclosed location. His past history is troublesome, no doubt. But as long as he's pitching, I can't help but think that the "June at the earliest" timeframe is just not very likely. If he doesn't feel good after his first start, skips his next and gets some weird schedule, all bets are off. But Prior pitching at this point is completely different than past seasons.

[CuseCubFan69]

I felt this way about Wood last year too and it has nothing to do with protecting myself in any way. I didn't like what I saw of Mark for the past 2 years and something is wrong IMO. I'm not trying to be a naysayer but the past history that Prior has shown bothers me. All this secret we don't know what's wrong thing just makes me wonder why they say this and I haven't heard what was wrong in the first place along with what he's hitting on the gun. I think the Cubs will have a good year with or without Prior but if he's even close to 2003 they will a very nice team indeed.

 

At this point though, if he's actually pitching, it's hard to maintain the "there's something wrong" idea. There doesn't seem to be much of a secret going on. We're not hearing that he's being held out and we don't know why. He's not in an undisclosed location. His past history is troublesome, no doubt. But as long as he's pitching, I can't help but think that the "June at the earliest" timeframe is just not very likely. If he doesn't feel good after his first start, skips his next and gets some weird schedule, all bets are off. But Prior pitching at this point is completely different than past seasons.

 

There's pitching and then there's pitching. Yes, it's early and I may be wrong but I don't think that I am. IMO you'll see a difference from what you expect from Mark Prior and he'll be a shell of what he once was and he won't have that extra umph he once had. The June is a target date so the Cubs will be able to decide on how to fix their rotation and the time they will give Prior to regain himself.

 

Has Bruce commented on how he has thrown yet?

[David]

 

There's pitching and then there's pitching. Yes, it's early and I may be wrong but I don't think that I am. IMO you'll see a difference from what you expect from Mark Prior and he'll be a shell of what he once was and he won't have that extra umph he once had. The June is a target date so the Cubs will be able to decide on how to fix their rotation and the time they will give Prior to regain himself.

 

Has Bruce commented on how he has thrown yet?

 

I don't know that he has...but we've already heard reports from Will Carrol's sources (who have a history of bringing forth negative Prior news) that he's throwing very well.

 

We also have a couple of first hand accounts from fans there that say he looks like 2003 Prior. Admittedly, though, these are only fans...so we can't really know how credible they really are.

[CuseCubFan69]

 

There's pitching and then there's pitching. Yes, it's early and I may be wrong but I don't think that I am. IMO you'll see a difference from what you expect from Mark Prior and he'll be a shell of what he once was and he won't have that extra umph he once had. The June is a target date so the Cubs will be able to decide on how to fix their rotation and the time they will give Prior to regain himself.

 

Has Bruce commented on how he has thrown yet?

 

I don't know that he has...but we've already heard reports from Will Carrol's sources (who have a history of bringing forth negative Prior news) that he's throwing very well.

 

We also have a couple of first hand accounts from fans there that say he looks like 2003 Prior. Admittedly, though, these are only fans...so we can't really know how credible they really are.

 

dav I really hope he is and I'd love to see Prior throwing well!

 

Ok...this is just my opinon but when I first saw Mark pitch I saw a cocky kid who didn't think anyone could hit off him and most of the time he was right. I saw him get injured a few times and imo he realized he is indeed normal and it effected his mental toughness. Is this true? It's my feeling it is and he has to get over that and relax go back to that mindset along with being able to throw pain free.